Report: Town of Berry Creek ‘Leveled’ by Bear Fire in Butte County
As Northern California residents attempt to make sense of the historic overnight growth of the Bear Fire (part of the North Complex Fire), one photojournalist has reported that the town of Berry Creek is “leveled.”
Carin Dorghalli is a reporter/photographer for the Chico Enterprise Record and reported on her Twitter account the town was devastated by the fast-moving fire.
I’ve been in Berry Creek since 3:30 a.m. The town is leveled. A firefighter said they rescued a hundred people from the #BearFire, including burn victims. pic.twitter.com/dDP3kmU19t
— Carin Dorghalli (@CarinDorghalli) September 9, 2020
“I’ve been in Berry Creek since 3:30 a.m. The town is leveled. A firefighter said they rescued a hundred people from the #BearFire, including burn victims,” she wrote on Twitter.
Berry Creek is a small community about 25 miles east of Oroville along Highway 162. The town had a population of 525 in 2012 and was evacuated for two weeks during the Camp Fire in 2018.
Little reports have been announced since the fire took on a historic spread overnight and burned all the way down the mountain from Plumas National Forest to Lake Oroville. UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain analyzed the the satellite imagery on the morning of September 9 and conservatively estimated the Bear Fire grew 250,000 acres in 24 hours.
To put last night's incredible southwestward run on #BearFire into perspective: a conservative estimate based on current satellite heat detections suggests fire expanded by ~250,000 acres in ~24 hours. Fire now directly threatening Oroville, Hwy 70 corridor. #CAwx #CAfire pic.twitter.com/4J6epC1FyR
— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) September 9, 2020
Photos show structures burning in the fire:
A few burned out properties at #Creekfire yesterday morning, then extreme fire activity all night/this morn at the #Bearfire near #Oroville. Shot through the night. Extremely tired. It's still burning. Fire crews spread extremely thin.
— Josh Edelson (@JoshEdelson) September 9, 2020
More pix here: https://t.co/jJdxVEo9OD pic.twitter.com/Xjup18EU8e
#bearfire pic.twitter.com/kdY9BrfeF1
— Dylan Bouscher (@DylanBouscher) September 9, 2020
#BearFire [update] View from Oro Quincy Highway (Hwy 162) at Forbestown Road. Fire has crested the hill across the lake from here. pic.twitter.com/q8i8FvHWW7
— CAL FIRE Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department (@CALFIRE_ButteCo) September 9, 2020
What about Casino and campground?
Praying for everyone, great sadness for all!
The devastation to property, wildlife, and our fellow citizens is beyond comprehension…please, God, protect them all, and esp our firefighters and first responders who put their lives on the line for us ðŸ™ðŸ‘¼ðŸ»ðŸ™